This Week

Don Giovanni

Nevada Opera concludes its 2012-2013 season with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s opera based on the legend of Don Juan, the infamous womanizer who’s been the subject of several literary works. In in this two-part opera, Don Giovanni, the Italian name for Don Juan, is an arrogant, promiscuous nobleman whose refusal to repent for his transgressions leads to supernatural retribution. Nevada Opera will present two versions of this popular opera. The traditional version will be performed at 7:30 p.m., May 17, and 2 p.m., May 19, at the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, 100 S. Virginia St. Tickets are $43-$78. The second version is an abridged work with a vampire twist. Giovanni, A Vampire Tale portrays the title character as a vampire instead of a seducer of women. This more youth-appropriate version will feature singers from NVO’s Chorus and Young Artists Program. Performances are at noon and 3 p.m., May 18, at the Pioneer Underground, located at the Pioneer Center. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for youth age 19 and younger. Call 786-4046 or 686-6600 or visit www.nevadaopera.org. .

—Kelley Lang

Painting the West

Stremmel Gallery presents its latest exhibition featuring work by Ron Arthaud, Jean LeGassick, Craig Mitchell, Charles Muench and Jeff Nicholson. The plein-air painters will show work depicting the landscapes of the Great Basin, Sierra and other regions of Nevada. There will be an opening reception at 5:30 p.m., May 16, at the gallery, 1400 S. Virginia St. The show will run through June 15. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. Call 786-0558 or visit www.stremmelgallery.com.

The Storyteller

Reno Pops Orchestra will present their spring concert, which takes a whimsical look at music inspired by some of the world’s most beloved works of literature, including Candide and The Hobbit. Guest Howard Rosenberg will narrate A.A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh and Robyn Niedhold, winner of RPO’s 2012 Concerto Festival, will perform Dmitri Shostakovich’s Concerto No. 1. The orchestra will also perform “Olivia,” an original work based on a scene from William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night composed by Tim Labor, winner of the 2012 Reno Pops Orchestra Composer Competition. The free concert begins at 7 p.m., May 18, at Nightingale Concert Hall, 1335 N. Virginia St., inside the Church Fine Arts Building at the University of Nevada, Reno. Call 673-1234 or visit www.renopops.org.

City of Reno Greenhouse Plant Sale

Local gardeners who have faithfully adhered to our area’s May 15 last frost date rule can now plant without worry. There are many places around town to stock up on spring and summer plants including this plant sale at the City of Reno Greenhouse, 190 Telegraph St. More than 5,000 plants will be for sale, including heirloom tomatoes, herbs, vegetables and annual flowers. The event is open from 7:30 a.m., until noon on May 18. Proceeds from the plant sale will benefit the Reno Municipal Rose Garden and Children’s Snack Garden. Call 657-4616.

Spring Wings Bird Festival

Thousands of shoreline and waterfowl descend on the wetlands in the Lahontan Valley each year during their spring migration. You’ll get a chance to see some of these migrating birds and other wildlife during the annual festival, which begins on May 17. There will be birding and wildlife tours to various locations within the Lahontan Valley wetlands surrounding Fallon, as well as demonstrations, workshops and presentations by wildlife experts at the Churchill County Fairgrounds, 325 Sheckler Road, Fallon. Prices vary from $5 to $50 for most events during the festival, which concludes on May 19. Call (775) 423-5128 or visit www.springwings.org.

Comstock Historic Preservation Weekend

You can’t help feeling as if you’ve been transported back in time when you visit Virginia City. Learn more about the historic boomtown’s heyday during the 27th annual celebration, which includes a kick-off party at 5:30 p.m., May 17, at the Fourth Ward School, 537 South C St., followed by tours of the school, Piper’s Opera House and other VC landmarks on May 18-19. Prices vary for tours. Call 847-0975 or visit http://fourthwardschool.org.

Chapel Tavern’s Pop-Up Brunch

The religious-themed bar will host this foodie event featuring locally roasted coffee from Magpie Coffee, a three-item brunch prepared by Chef Mark Estee of Campo restaurant and a specialty brunch cocktail prepared by Chapel Tavern mixologists. There will be three seatings between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., May 18, at the tavern, 1099 S. Virginia St. Tickets are $25 in advance. Call 815-5937 or visit www.chapeltavern.com.